God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

While he didn't know his intentions yet, Cain had come to the realization that Khan had killed Lucia because of him.

For whatever twisted reason, perhaps he had believed that Lucia's death would become a catalyst that would bring about a change in him.

And it had.

Because right now, Cain felt only rage.

Scorching hot, red rage.

But he also felt a calm coolth envelope his mind, like he was partially submerged in icy water.

And that was enough for him to see through it.

"Cut the bullshit, Khan."

Cain took a step forward, his words calm and measured, yet equally as menacing,

Khan sighed and shook his head,

"Look around you, Cain. This world is falling apart."

"Others might not see it, but I know you see it perfectly. The Devils, the Aether Beasts, the Mutant Beasts... This world is changing, evolving . And we humans are being quickly left behind. It won't be long before we are wiped out."

Khan took a step forward, looking Cain right in the face. However, all Cain saw was the eerie mask,

"But there is an exception. Humans of unimaginable potential. The embers of our fate."

Khan lightly trembled as he spoke,

"She had to die, Cain. Because if she didn't, you wouldn't burn as bright as you are right now. A man is only as tough as the woes he can face."

Then he took two steps back,

"You asked why I killed her? It was because she stood in my way. Now that you know this, do what you must." Khan said, eagle spreading his hands and thrusting his chest out

Cain was silent. He imaginef how easy it would be to just thrust his blade through and end the life.

He mulled over Khan's words again. Then he shook his head.

Gradually, the rage that had almost consumed him faded away, replaced with exhaustion.

He was tired.

He suddenly turned around. Reaching down to the ground, he picked Boulder up and swung him across his shoulder.

"I'm not going to kill you."

There was silence once again.

Khan gradually lowered his hands and his shoulders slumped,

"Wrong answer, Cain."

Cain sneered,

"Unlike you, I cannot see the future, so excuse me, but I am not convinced."

His eyes were sharp like a blade's edge, cutting through the darkness. The streams of silver moonlight pouring in from above illuminated his lonely visage.

"I won't kill you, but I'll leave you with this; one man trying to control fate is a foolish man. If you cannot control it, then destroy it. Break it down and build it right back up."

He had killed Lucia because she stood in his way as he let the revolt against Arltzwalt. Her death would in turn have the double effect of sending Cain flying into a rage.

Cain had no doubt that was Khan's end goal. To enrage him and cause him to go on a mad killing spree.

He chuckled once again. It hurt him, but he wasn't going to do it.

Instead...

He looked up,

'For her sake, I will succeed.'

A deep malice suddenly came wafting off of Khan,

"This is terrible. Why would you want to throw all my efforts away, Cain? Could it be that your ember isn't what I seek?" He muttered.

Cain turned slightly,

"You clearly have a few screws loose. But there's nothing I can do for you now. I'll be taking these two with me." Cain said as he walked across the room and reached down to pick General Arltzwalt's body.

Then he froze.

He leapt back as fast as he could, dragging the General's body with him. A split second later, that corner of the room turned into dust and shrapnel.

That was the last straw. The building could not take it anymore and an entire portion of it collapsed into the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.

Cain shot out of the dust dragging with him Arltzwalt's and Boilder's bodies.

His eyes scanned the area quickly.

There were swift shadows moving through the wreckage towards his landing point.

Cain frowned.

'He had seen it before hand, but still tried to change it. He's rather persistent."

He recalled what Azazel had told him right before he left Prometheus.

'Not all problems can be solved with violence.'

Unfortunately, this one was not one of those. He had decided to let Khan go, not from the goodness of his heart, but for more selfish reasons.

Despite what Khan tried to portray, the guilt of having killed Lucia would eat at him forever.

At some point, they had been friends. Very good friends.

That meant he had killed a good friend, whatever his motivations were.

So to free himself of that guilt, he wanted to die.

But Cain was not so lenient. He would rather have him bear that guilt for the rest of his mortal life than have that momentary satisfaction of killing him..

He wanted him to live with the pain forever.

Still soaring in the air, he shifted his body slightly, changing the direction of his fall.

A second later, he landed on the ground.

By now, Khan and his people were already out of the wreckage charging at him.

Cain heard a groan come from his side. He looked down.

"Get me out of these chains." He heard the General say.

Cain smiled with mirth in his eyes,

"Glad to see you are finally awake."

The bulky old man growled,

"Just let me out of these damned chains!"

Cain obliged, dropping him roughly to the ground.

With a single thought, the chains slid off the General's body.

A series of crackles and pops came from him as he slowly straightened his body.

Khan came to a stop and raised a fist, causing the rest of them to stop as well.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, old dog. You are alive solely because of my mercy. Do not allow me to take it away." Khan said, brandishing his twin blades.

General Arltzwalt merely glared down coldly. He easily stood taller than every person here despite being much older than most. He towering figure brought a sense of intimidation with it,

"Any last words?"

Cain frowned, "You can't ki—"

Before the words could completely roll off his tongue, the General had already exploded into action.

The bodies of Khan's followed popped like bloody balloons.

Reacting quickly, Khan brought his blades up to block.

BANG!

There was a loud crash and the sound of shattering glass.

Both of Khan's blades shattered and the General's fist bore down on him like a hammer, smashing into his chest.

The mask fell to the ground, covered in dust and blood, revealing Khan's smiling face.

It was still the same one Cain recognized.

Their eyes met.

As the light slowly faded from his eyes, Khan whispered. The words were carried with the wind, reaching Cain's ears just as the last light of life faded from his eyes.

Cain trembled. Light streaked across his hands and the corpse of Lucia slowly manifested in them.

A moment later, the 'corpse' melted away into flowing sand, carried by the wind.

"Damn it!"

Tossing the corpse aside, General Arltzwalt looked around, his bloodshot eyes looking for th next victim.

Instead, what he was met with, was Cain's cold stare.

The rage in his died away, replaced with a calculating light.

"I have killed the traitor, Cain. His sins were too heavy to be forgiven."

Cain didn't say anything for a moment. Then he sighed, gently placing Boilder's body on the ground.

"Violence shouldn't be the first answer, I was told. But when the need arises, it should be used to its maximum capability."

Sensing the shift in Cain, General Arltzwalt took a step back, fear building up in his heart,

"Cain, don't do anything rash."

He frowned and took a step forward, a haughty expression making its way onto his face,

"If it is what happened in the past, then I can understand your rage. However, I was just looking out for the best interest of my people. I hope you can forgive me and be understanding. Besides, I can see a future with you. A future with us at the head of humanity and—"

Motes of light swirled around him arms as {Gihenai} wove itself into reality.

"Cain! What are you doing?! Are you planning to kill me on my own turf?!"

His voice was loud.

The building's collapse had already attracted a lot of attention, and a few soldiers were already rushing over.

Cain didn't even spare them a glance as he continued to approach the General.

"You have a lot of crimes to answer to, but I shall give you a chance."

He raised his fist, "If you can survive a single blow, I will let you go."

Arltzwalt looked around.

Much to his utter dismay, his men, the soldiers that had gathered around, simply watched in with the crowd. They didn't make a move to interfere at all.

Then it occured to him. The only people that had died in the revolt, were those absolutely loyal to him.

The people left were those that were two weak to matter, and those who's loyalty to him was brittle.

They would rather not risk provoking Cain if it meant coming forward.

Cain took his last step forward, arriving just three meters before General Arltzwalt.

The General gritted his teeth and sneered,

"Just one punch, huh? You really underestimate me, huh."

Cain didn't reply, merely getting into striking position.

The General's face paled and he tried to take a step back.

Everything seemed to slow down.

His life has been a fairly long one. And yet, all of it flashed before him in a mere second.

'Ah, I see... So that's where I messed up.'

However, he was given no more time to reflect.

There was a flash of light, and an intense heat that was bizarrely cold as well.

Then came the impact. And then there was darkness.